FLORHAM PARK, N.J.—A crowd of reporters, camera crews and photographers swarmed around Mark Sanchez as he described his reaction to retaining the quarterback job, only the latest saga in a Jets’ season that has had much more drama than victories.

On the other side of the locker room, a deep out route away, rookie wide receiver Stephen Hill spoke to one reporter. Strangely fitting, in that the much-hyped (by coach Rex Ryan) second-round pick has become an afterthought in what appears to be a lost season for New York.

Whatever the Jets’ quarterback situation looks like in 2013, they will need a lot more from Hill if this offense is ever to give opposing defensive coordinators sleepless nights.

Hill, who missed two games with a knee injury earlier this season and is questionable for Sunday’s game at Jacksonville because of his knee, has 21 receptions. That’s only one more catch than Santonio Holmes, who has been on injured reserve since suffering a Lisfranc foot injury in Week 4.

“There’s times that you get down, but at the same time, you’ve just got to bounce back from it,” Hill said when asked to reflect on his rookie season thus far.

The Jets hoped the speedy receiver from Georgia Tech would be able to blow the top off defenses, resulting not only in big plays for him, but plays for other receivers underneath. It hasn’t happened very often. He is averaging only 12.0 yards per catch, 2.6 less than second-year pro Jeremy Kerley, considered to be a possession receiver. He has three touchdown catches, two of which came in an opening-day rout of Buffalo.

Part of that lack of production is on Hill, who had problems with drops throughout college. He had a huge one in an overtime loss at New England in October, costing the Jets a first down late in regulation and making them settle for a field goal. He also has had to learn a complicated pro route tree after being in a run-oriented, triple-option offense in college.

But the inconsistent Sanchez also is to blame. In that loss to the Pats, he threw late to a wide-open Hill near the end zone and the pass was intercepted. And in a defeat at Seattle, Sanchez didn’t see Hill open in the end zone and threw a crucial interception.

Hill consistently stays late after practice, catching passes from a machine, and his teammates have noticed his work ethic.

“You can tell he goes home and studies the plays at night,” veteran wideout Chaz Schilens said. “I see him talking to Mark and trying to pay attention to the reps he’s not in for.”

Offensive coordinator Tony Sparano said Hill has “done a good job,” adding, “He has room to improve right now, certainly. I think we’re just scratching the surface with this guy right now. I’m looking forward to sticking him in the weight room, seeing him come out of the weight room in the offseason and watching the kid develop in the spring, too.”

Hill already knows how he will spend his offseason.

“I’ve put a lot of thought into it,” he said. “I’m not going to go home. I’m going to stay here and work out. That’s the best decision for me, not to go home and be around people I know. I’ve just got to work on my craft.

“I feel like I’ve gotten better,” he added. “I’ve put in so much work. I take this game very seriously. … I’m a lot smarter but I still have a lot to learn.”

And if he continues to learn, how good can Hill be?

“As good as he wants to be,” Schilens said. “He wants to be a good player and he has the right work ethic and the right set of physical tools, so the sky’s the limit.”